Comment by nicpottier | Hacker News Reader

Comment by nicpottier | Hacker News Reader

I've bought a few different domains on Namecheap using BTC, the first time just after they started supporting it. Back then their implementation (or their provider's) was a bit broken, I had to wait a few hours for enough confirmations before I could spend the money.

They have since changed that so payment is instant (the effort required to double spend a $15 domain would be far more expensive than the benefit). The experience is awesome I must say. I just love being able to whip out my phone, scan a QR code on the screen and confirm the purchase and have it instantly go through.

Much, much better than having to pull out my credit card, type in 16 numbers, make sure I use the right zip, then remember what crazy authorized by mastercard password I used. Especially for digital goods, not having to do all the address verification etc.., sure makes the transaction nicer.

I doubt they gain a whole lot from using BTC (though I think there is real potential in developing countries), but hats off to them for supporting it anyways. They were my registrar of choice before and this only strengthened that.

>Much, much better than having to pull out my credit card, type in 16 numbers, make sure I use the right zip, then remember what crazy authorized by mastercard password I used. Especially for digital goods, not having to do all the address verification etc.., sure makes the transaction nicer.

IMHO you are heavily exaggerating how complicated it is to use CC and/or other payment options and how easy it is to use btc.

I select paypal, which already has me logged in to my account (or lastpass automatically logs me in), click "Pay Now". Instantly done.

Same goes for google wallet and similar services. Lastpass even has my CC info which I can use to fill out forms if I don't have an account. Even without lastpass I know my CC number, and I never have to make sure I use the right zip (how complicated is that to remember, seriously?)

It's much easier than having to pull out my phone (which is god knows where), open app, enter PIN (because security...), scan QR code from the screen and pay.

Or log into web wallet like blockchain.info by entering wallet ID, password and 2FA code,copy/paste bitcoin address somewhere and send money to it and if I get one letter/character wrong the money is forever gone because fk chargebacks, right?

(Did I chose one of the more complicated scenarios? Yes, just like OP did in parent comment for CC payments)

It's good that they offer multiple payment options, but comments which highlight best case scenario when using bitcoin and worst case scenario(in terms of how easy it is) when using CCs/PP/etc are really annoying.

>though I think there is real potential in developing countries

I bet you that it's insanely easier to get CC than bitcoin in a lot of "developing countries", and average people from developing countries, which I assume have lower than most income, should really avoid bitcoin due to the price fluctuation. In theory it's great, in practice... not so much.

Agree that Paypal is pretty darn quick. I personally have issues with zip codes because I live abroad and always forget which zip code my credit card is on, but I agree that isn't typical.

The advantage is clearest when it is your first transaction, so not when using PayPal or Google Wallet. Because I live abroad (Rwanda) I have more hassle with credit cards than you might, specifically they are always getting flagged for fraud because I'm not where they expect. Yes, this isn't an issue if you live in the states at a permanent address.

> I bet you that it's insanely easier to get CC than bitcoin in a lot of "developing countries", and average people from developing countries, which I assume have lower than most income, should really avoid bitcoin due to the price fluctuation. In theory it's great, in practice... not so much.

Not sure why you are using quotes, but you are wrong on this one, at least in East Africa where I live. Getting a credit card is pretty annoying and expensive in Rwanda. The vast majority of people do not have bank accounts, much less credit.

I wouldn't suggest Bitcoin as a store of value, but I do think there is potential as a form of payment in these markets. IE, buying $15 of bitcoins (which yes, can be had in various ways here) to register the domain and spending it the same day. That is indeed easier than getting a credit card here.

>I have more hassle with credit cards than you might, specifically they are always getting flagged for fraud because I'm not where they expect. Yes, this isn't an issue if you live in the states at a permanent address.

I have lived, well more of a stayed for few months than lived for longer period of time, in various countries in EU and I only had one time paypal block my payment with credit card issued in Bosnia. That was when I installed new OS(W8), different browser(trying out FF) and different country(Italy) - it made complete sense to block the purchase. And that was resolved in about 15 minutes after I contacted their support.

>Not sure why you are using quotes

I was quoting the scenario you named where bitcoin has advantages. I probably shouldn't have used quotes though...

>Getting a credit card is pretty annoying and expensive in Rwanda.

I don't know about Rwanda, but in most countries (even the developing ones) you do have access to CC. I'm pretty sure that everyone who can afford PC and internet access can also afford CC.

Of course there are exceptions, but those exceptions aren't really suitable for bitcoin either because it would be more complicated than just using cash - because you need phone or PC to make (normal) transaction.

>The vast majority of people do not have bank accounts, much less credit.

So how do you buy bitcoins? In person transactions? Isn't it worth it then, for someone who makes online payments frequently, to go through annoying process of getting the CC instead of finding people who are willing to sell bitcoins? Or go to a bank and make a wire transfer or WU transfer (which is, I assume, more expensive for large quantity of transfers than paying for CC)?

>(the effort required to double spend a $15 domain would be far more expensive than the benefit)

Also the protection against double-spending greatly improved with a rapid alert system. http://dl.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=2382292

Thanks for the pointer, that looks interesting. Any idea if the full text is available anywhere for free?

http://eprint.iacr.org/2012/248.pdf

Sorry, that wasn't as good of a reference as I thought. Somewhere in the presentation for the paper, the authors mention that they worked with the bitcoin client devs (after publication) to get the notify neighbors on double-spend approach rather than silently ignoring. The result is that the information spreads through the p2p network very quickly and notifies both recipients that they are getting shafted.

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